Wem Foundation
WEM Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The organization has been tax-exempt since December 1988 and operates as a private grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$359.5M
+76.3% YoY
Grant Count
135
-2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.7M
+80.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is giving primarily for arts and cultural programs, education, health care, and international affairs.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Arts and cultural programs
- Health care
- International affairs
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants.
Grant Range
$12,000
Average Grant
amount: $100–$75,165,000
Ready to take the next step with Wem Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a wide range of cities and states across the United States, including:
- Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming
- Major urban centers including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
- Smaller towns throughout the country
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Data:
- Total assets: $0
- Total revenue: $5.94 million
- Total expenses: $360 million
- Total giving: $359,470,304
Note: The significant disparity between assets and expenses reflects the foundation's planned spend-down phase.
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation ($10,000,000), Guthrie Theater ($8,225,000), Groves Academy ($5,255,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL | $10,000,000 |
| ACHIEVE TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL | $800,000 |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | GENERAL | $515,000 |
| ANNEX TEEN CLINIC ROBBINSDALE, MN | GENERAL | $250,000 |
| BANYAN COMMUNITY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL | $350,000 |
| BESTPREP BROOKLYN PARK, MN | GENERAL | $1,100,000 |
| BLACK MEN TEACH HOPKINS, MN | GENERAL | $200,000 |
| BLAKE SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND PLYMOUTH, MN | GENERAL | $1,025,204 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY VERO BEACH, FL | GENERAL | $1,050,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL | $3,150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Elizabeth S. MacMillan — Director/Vice Chair/Secretary
- Harriet S. Norgren — Director
- James Hield — Director/President
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH S MACMILLAN | DIRECTOR/VICE CHAIR/SEC | 1 | — |
| HARRIET S NORGREN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $5,000 |
| JAMES HIELD | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 40 | $390,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Minnesota's WEM Foundation is in the process of sunsetting with a substantial spend-down of approximately $500 million. The foundation has distributed significant grants across its focus areas during this wind-down period.
Willmar teacher wins $10,000 award from WEM Foundation - West Central TribuneFrequently Asked Questions
What does Wem Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is giving primarily for arts and cultural programs, education, health care, and international affairs. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Arts and cultural programs • Health care • International affairs • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Wem Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $359,470,304 • Average grant amount: $100–$75,165,000 • Total grants awarded (previous year): 31,036 • Typical awards range: $200–$1,400,000 • Average grant size: $12,000 • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% **Application Status:** The foundation is open to new applicants. **Filing Status:** The organization filed a final return as of 2023, indicating a planned wind-down of operations.
Where does Wem Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports a wide range of cities and states across the United States, including: • Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming • Major urban centers including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. • Smaller towns throughout the country
What size grants does Wem Foundation award?
In 2023, Wem Foundation awarded 135 grants totaling $359.5M — an average of about $2.7M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Wem Foundation's EIN?
Wem Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1604640. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wem Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Spicola Family Foundation
MINNETONKA, MN
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$410K
Litchfield Student Anglers Club
LITCHFIELD, MN
Assets
$738
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The Geyer Family Foundation
EDINA, MN
Assets
—
Grants
7
Total Given
$35K
Love 4 One Another Charities
CHANHASSEN, MN
Assets
$8.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$90K
Donald and Luella Zibell Family Foundation
NORTHFIELD, MN
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$80K
Minnesota Citizens Concerned
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
$745K
Grants
2
Total Given
$942K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Wem Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Wem Foundation to a real strategy.